PHILLIPS NAMED CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Zack Phillips’ hot start to the 2011 post-season has netted him a weekly honour from the Canadian Hockey League.

Phillips was named the CHL Player of the Week this afternoon after scoring four goals and adding four assists in his first two playoff games of the year against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. The Fredericton native became the first Sea Dog to score four goals in a single game last Friday when he netted a hat-trick-plus-one in Saint John’s 10-0 win over the Eagles in Game One. He also added an assist.

On Saturday, Phillips was feeling a little more generous and assisted on three goals in the Dogs’ 7-1 victory over Cape Breton. The trio of assists gave Phillips eight points on the weekend.

A top prospect for the upcoming National Hockey League Entry Draft, the second-year Sea Dog recorded 38 goals and 57 assists in 67 regular season games. He finished second in team scoring, 10 points behind linemate Jonathan Huberdeau.

It is the second time this season that the Sea Dogs forward has won the award. He was also named the CHL Player of the Week for November 22 – 28.

According to a CHL press release, “Christian Thomas of the Oshawa Generals was also considered for the award after scoring three goals and six assists for nine points in three games. Brett Ferguson of the Red Deer Rebels had five points in two games scoring one goal and four assists. “

PHILLIPS CHL'S BEST THIS WEEK

 Zach Phillips continues to get recognition for his hot play of late.

After being named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s first star of the week on Monday, Phillips was given the honour of Canadian Hockey League Player of the Week today.

The Fredericton native scored two goals in each contest he played in this weekend, helping the Sea Dogs defeat the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 6-3 on Friday night and the Halifax Mooseheads 7-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Along with his four goals, Phillips added two assists and was a +3. He was named first star in both contests.

Here is part of the release:

Phillips led the Sea Dogs to two wins scoring the game-winner in both contests and was twice named first star of the game. He had two goals and an assist on Friday night in a 6-3 win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and then scored another two goals with an assist on Sunday in a 7-1 win over the Halifax Mooseheads to give the Sea Dogs nine wins in their past 10 games.

Phillips, an 18-year-old from Fredericton, NB, is playing in his second QMJHL season with the Sea Dogs. He has 33 points in 26 games so far this season and is the 11th ranked QMJHL skater eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft as determined by NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Rankings.

Phillips joins Victoriaville’s Brandon Hynes and Shawinigan’s Michael Bournival as players from the QMJHL who have won the award this season.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation